Running seems simple, yet challenging at the same time. You just run straight ahead, but soon after you are faced with a dilemma of whether to keep running or stop. One of our employees has a new dream as running has become the most important part of her life after she was unexpectedly introduced to it. Pro Young-joo Choi is already a star among her colleagues. Her running skills are so well known that she is sponsored by a sports brand.

[Pro Young-joo Choi posing at SAMSUNG SDI Giheung(HQ)]

Please give us a brief introduction of yourself.

Hello. I am Young-joo Choi who enjoys running. I am in charge of logistics at AEB) Global Operation Group. 

What do you like about running in particular?

#The Most Honest Exercise_I Started Running By Accident, But I Have Been Training Myself Ever Since

I’ve been a good runner since I was a student, and I also used to cycle as a hobby. Then in 2018, I took part in a relay marathon with some friends, and my marathon time was about 46 minutes for 10 km, which was fun. After that, I tried other marathons and gradually increased the distance to a full marathon. Nowadays, I'm still practicing consistently, so my life is basically about home, work, and training. I'm also very careful about my diet.

Running is a very honest sport, so even what I eat makes a difference to my performance, and people tell me that I look like “a real marathoner” and that they can see the changes in my body shape. It makes me think positively about everything, and I think that helps me in my work life as well. Running a marathon is about pushing through physically challenging moments, so I don't find it mentally challenging anymore. When I'm stressed, I listen to music and run my favorite course as a healthy outlet.

[Pro Young-joo Choi is consistently training herself]

I heard you have a new dream after you started running.

#Dream of Finishing 6 World Marathon Majors_Step by Step towards a Goal

This has been my dream since the beginning of my running journey. The six world marathon majors are Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. Every runner who completes all the six major marathons gets the Six Star Medal. 

Last year, I participated in the Boston Marathon with the support of Adidas Korea, and I was very happy just to be able to participate. I didn’t have enough time to get used to the place due to time constraints, and it was raining on the day, which made it difficult to run, but I was able to finish because I had been practicing regularly. This fall, I participated in the 50th anniversary Berlin Marathon. I've done quite a few international races, but it was my first time in Europe, so I was very nervous. But I remember the unique free-spirited atmosphere there, which made me enjoy the race and even Oktoberfest with my friends. (Laugh)

I am very proud to have participated in international marathons that many people aspire and to have taken one step closer to my goal of finishing all six marathon majors. It is said that only about 8,000 people in the world and 70 people in Korea have the Six Star Medal. My ultimate goal here is to get one and display it alongside the medals I have received so far.

[Pro Young-joo Choi went to Boston Marathon(Left) and Berlin Marathon(Right)]

Do you have any advice for novice runners?

#One Step At a Time_Small Steps, A Big Leap, Start With 10km

If you're a regular exerciser and have the stamina to complete a 10km run, I'd recommend setting a target time for how long you'd like to finish in, and then set a target time for 1km and run at that pace.

For example, if you want to finish a 10km run in 50 minutes, you'd run at a pace of 5 minutes per km. For your first race, I think it makes sense to keep track of your time as you run, and try to keep your pace steady. By setting a target pace, you'll be able to maintain your own pace and not push yourself too hard if people around you are ahead of you.

If you don't exercise much, you might want to set yourself a different goal: run 1km, walk 1km, then run 2km non-stop, then gradually increase the distance to 3km. If you can run 5km non-stop, you should be able to complete 10km pretty easily.

My tip is to sprint the last km with everything you have left. You'll probably end up shaving a few seconds off your time, and there's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment when you cross the finish line after pushing yourself to the limit. I also sprint at the end, and I hope you get to experience that feeling at least once.

[Pro Young-joo Choi is happy to cross the finish line at the 18th Ulleungdo Island National Marathon]

Pro Young-joo Choi is currently running towards to complete the six marathon majors amid busy work. We give big support to her courage and inspiration.